The murders of Rick and Gail Brink
Park Township, Ottawa County, Michigan · 1987
Overview
Rick Brink, 28, and his wife Gail, 22, newlyweds of 18 months, were shot to death at their home in Park Township, near Holland, Michigan, with their bodies discovered on November 23, 1987. Rick was found in his Chevy Blazer in the driveway and Gail in bed inside the house. Gail's older brother, Ryan Wyngarden, was interviewed within days but was not treated as a suspect, and his then-girlfriend confirmed his alibi. The case went cold. In 2009 the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office formed a cold case team, and in 2011 two detectives were assigned the Brink murders. They read the old files, conducted more than 200 interviews and noticed a discrepancy in the alibi. On January 18, 2013 they brought in Wyngarden's wife, who said her husband had admitted to her years earlier that he killed his sister and brother-in-law. He was arrested within hours. A fellow inmate later testified that Wyngarden confessed to him in jail. At trial in March 2014, prosecutors said Wyngarden acted out of jealousy and to keep secret sexual contact with his sister when they were younger. The defense said his wife's testimony could not be trusted. A jury convicted him of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder on March 28, 2014, and he was sentenced to life without parole. Appeals failed. He maintains his innocence.
How it was solved
The Brink murders were solved by people, not by forensics. In 1987 Ryan Wyngarden told investigators he had been doing laundry and minding children at a friend's house, and his then-girlfriend, who later became his wife, backed him up. In 2009 the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office created a cold case team, and in 2011 detectives Venus Repper and David Blakely were assigned the case. They read thousands of old pages, conducted more than 200 interviews, some out of state, and heard relatives say that Wyngarden had once remarked that he sometimes wondered whether he could have done it. They also noticed a discrepancy in the old transcripts about his alibi, and said that a recantation by his wife had never been looked into to their satisfaction. On January 18, 2013 detectives brought her in. She told them her husband had admitted to her, years earlier, that he killed his sister and brother-in-law, and she said that before the bodies were discovered he took her to the house. Wyngarden was arrested within hours. At a preliminary hearing a fellow inmate also testified that Wyngarden had told him in jail the motive was anger and jealousy. At trial his wife testified that she kept silent for years because she was afraid. Prosecutors argued jealousy, a dispute over a camper, and a wish to keep from Rick a secret sexual relationship between Wyngarden and Gail when they were younger. The defense called the wife's testimony the linchpin of the case and said she had lied repeatedly. The jury convicted him after about four hours. He has always said he is innocent.
Sources
- Justice for newlywed couple shot to death in '87: How detectives cracked the case (May 2, 2014)
“her husband admitted to her, all those years ago, that he killed his sister and brother-in-law.”
- Zeeland man accused of murdering sister accused of sexual relationship with her (February 28, 2013)
“The judge said there was enough evidence to take the case to circuit court and possible trial.”
- Intense testimony in cold case murder trial (March 13, 2014)
“If you go to the police or tell anybody what I did here this could happen to you”
- Closing arguments underway in double murder cold case (March 27, 2014)
“he killed Rick and Gail because he was jealous of them”
- Man convicted in cold case slayings along lakeshore (March 28, 2014)
“The jury convicted Ryan Wyngarden on two charges of first degree premeditated murder of Rick and Gail Brink.”
- Judge during Wyngarden sentencing: 'Do I need to bind you and gag you' (April 21, 2014)
“sentenced in a Ottawa County courtroom to life in prison without the possibility of parole”
- Brother charged with couple's 1987 death (January 2013)
“according to a court document obtained by MLive.com, Wyngarden's wife told police he admitted to her that he was the killer.”
- Testimony: Man killed sister to keep incest under wraps (March 1, 2013)
“Wyngarden's wife testified Wednesday that he told her he killed the couple”
- Michigan man faces sentencing for 1987 murder of sister, her husband (April 2014)
“a jury deliberated only four hours before delivering the verdict.”
- Man murders sister, her husband to cover up incestuous relationship
“The detectives noticed a discrepancy in their interview transcripts”
- Wyngarden appeal denied by state appeals court (August 12, 2015)
“The state Court of Appeals has upheld the double-murder conviction of Ryan Wyngarden”
- Michigan Supreme Court rejects bid to reopen conviction (September 2018)
“Three courts have rejected the effort, including the state Supreme Court this week.”